COLORECTAL-CANCER AND CARDIAC RISK REDUCTION USING COMPUTER-ASSISTED DIETARY COUNSELING IN A LOW-INCOME MINORITY POPULATION

Three nurses offered computer-assisted 24-hour dietary analysis to pat ients waiting to see their physicians in a general medicine clinic in a public hospital. The nurses showed the participants their results, r ecommended food substitutions, and suggested reevaluation of the patie nts' diets at their next scheduled clinic visit. Follow-up data showed a decrease in fat, dietary cholesterol, kilocalories, and weight, and an increase in dietary fiber. This article discusses the use of this and other interventions to assist low-income minority patients in unde rstanding and complying with dietary recommendations that promote card iovascular health and decrease the risk of developing colorectal cance r.